6
POLE PRUNER SAFETY WARNINGS
This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or
mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge, unless they have been given supervision or
instruction concerning use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety.
Young children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the appliance.
• Keep all parts of the body away from the saw chain when the chain saw is operating. Before you
start the chain saw, make sure the saw chain is not contacting anything. A moment of inattention
while operating chain saws may cause entanglement of your clothing or body with the saw chain.
• Always hold the chain saw with your right hand on the rear handle and your left hand on the front
handle. Holding the chain saw with a reversed hand configuration increases the risk of personal
injury and should never be done.
• Wear safety glasses and hearing protection. Further protective equipment for head, hands, legs
and feet is recommended. Adequate protective clothing will reduce personal injury by flying debris
or accidental contact with the saw chain.
• Do not operate a chain saw in a tree. Operation of a chain saw while up in a tree may result in
personal injury.
• Always keep proper footing and operate the chain saw only when standing on fixed, secure and
level surface. Slippery or unstable surfaces such as ladders may cause a loss of balance or control of
the chain saw.
• When cutting a limb that is under tension be alert for spring back. When the tension in the wood
fibres is released the spring loaded limb may strike the operator and/or throw the chain saw out of
control.
• Use extreme caution when cutting brush and saplings. The slender material may catch the saw
chain and be whipped toward you or pull you off balance.
• Carry the chain saw by the front handle with the chain saw switched off and away from your
body. When transporting or storing the chain saw always fit the guide bar cover. Proper handling
of the chain saw will reduce the likelihood of accidental contact with the moving saw chain.
• Follow instructions for lubricating, chain tensioning and changing accessories. Improperly
tensioned or lubricated chain may either break or increase the chance for kickback.
• Keep handles dry, clean, and free from oil and grease. Greasy, oily handles are slippery causing loss
of control.
• Cut wood only. Do not use chain saw for purposes not intended. For example: do not use chain
saw for cutting plastic, masonry or non-wood building materials. Use of the chain saw for
operations different than intended could result in a hazardous
• Do not use the chainsaw while up a tree.
• Always use the replacement chain bars and chains specified by the manufacturer. Using the wrong
replacement chain bars or chains may cause the chain to break or can result in kickback.
Kickback
Kickback may occur when the nose or tip of the guide bar touches an object, or when the wood closes
in and pinches the saw chain in the cut. Tip contact in some cases may cause a sudden reverse
reaction, kicking the guide bar up and back towards the operator.
Pinching the saw chain along the top of the guide bar may push the guide bar rapidly back towards the
operator.
Either of these reactions may cause you to lose control of the saw which could result in serious personal
injury. Do not rely exclusively upon the safety devices built into your saw. As a chain saw user, you
should take several steps to keep your cutting jobs free from accident or injury.
Kickback is the result of tool misuse and/or incorrect operating procedures or conditions and can be
avoided by taking proper precautions as given below:
• Maintain a firm grip, with thumbs and fingers encircling the chain saw handles, with both hands on
the saw and position your body and arm to allow you to resist kickback forces. Kickback forces can
be controlled by the operator, if proper precautions are taken. Do not let go of the chain saw.
• Do not overreach and do not cut above shoulder height. This helps prevent unintended tip contact
and enables better control of the chain saw in unexpected situations.
• Only use replacement bars and chains specified by the manufacturer. Incorrect replacement bars
and chains may cause chain breakage and/or kickback.
• Follow the manufacturer’s sharpening and maintenance instructions for the saw chain. Decreasing
the depth gauge height can lead to increased kickback.
• Reduce the element of surprise by understanding what causes kickback.
Push Back
Push back will occur if an attempt is made to saw with the top of the guide bar, if the chain touches
against a rigid object and jams in the cut.
Pull Forward
If the bucking spikes are not set against the timber, the chain at the bottom of the guide bar will pull
the saw forward; this can jam the chain in the timber. To avoid this always have the bucking spikes
set against the timber when performing a cut.